FX has been steadily growing its original programming lineup for years. This summer, the network added Tyrant to its lineup and on Thursday, FX announced that the Middle East drama will be returning to the schedule for a second season. While Tyrant had a pretty loyal following this summer and managed to create a little buzz, I’m not surprised it took FX a little time to renew the summer offering.

Taking over Fargo's recently vacated timeslot, Gideon Raff's FX drama Tyrant settles in at Tuesday night with a premiere episode that reveals its potential, not to mention the amount of effort it took for this ambitious project to be made. While the first episode teases an intriguing new drama that will leave you wanting more, the episodes that follow don't quite satisfy.

Coming to FX later this month is Howard Gordon and Craig Wright's drama Tyrant. FX released this first look video, which offers us some glimpses at the incredibly beautiful setting of this promising new drama, along with some insights into the story and what viewers should expect.

The Summer TV season is upon us. With new shows like Extant, Rush and Tyrant -- among others -- joining the lineup, and returning series like True Blood, Doctor Who, Under the Dome, Defiance and Graceland lined up, TV has plenty to offer us this summer.

It has been a huge week for TV, with the upfronts laying out everything that the basic cable networks will be offering viewers for the next year or so. Not to be outdone, the quality control specialists at FX and FXX have released their summer schedule, covering both returning shows and those new to the airwaves.

So what is this preview all about? As Bassam “Barry” Al Fayeed, Brit actor Adam Rayner (Hunted) stands in the middle of a non-specific desert in the middle of an imaginary country, letting sand fall out of his hand. Metaphors abound, but we’re not quite sure what any of them are at this point. Are these the Sands of Time washing away old wounds?

FX is getting oppressive with its next series, and that’s a very good thing. The network has given a full-season order to Tyrant, an hour-long drama from the producers of Showtime’s Homeland, Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff. The show — which has yet to go into production, but it slated to begin shooting in Tel Aviv in March — is scheduled to air next summer, making this early order a huge vote of confidence for the viability of the series. And we've got your first look.

David Yates most notable credits to date are the last four Harry Potter films. But what has the director been up to since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? There was talk about him maybe directing The Stand a few years back, but then he backed out. And then there was a Doctor Who feature project that didn't happen. And coming up, he's been attached to direct a British war drama St. Nazaire. But it looks like Yates may be turning back to television, as he's reportedly set to direct a pilot for FX.

FX has snagged an Oscar-winning director to helm the drama pilot Tyrant. Life of Pi director Ang Lee has come on board to both direct and executive produce. It marks the first time he has taken on a TV pilot and gives the project and even stronger likelihood of going to series.

FX has just ordered a pilot that already seems to have network advocates. The Twentieth Century Fox-owned network has bought a project from Homeland producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff, that will also be set in the Middle East. The idea, if executed correctly, has the potential to be as mind-blowing as Showtime’s Homeland--at least, according to network executives.